August 12, 2026 · eu
Han Kang's "The Box of Tears": A Book to Explore the Furrows of Emotion
The "A Book a Day" column spotlights South Korean author Han Kang with a novel-poem that questions memory and exile.
The "A Book a Day" column, which offers a daily selection of readings on art and culture, returns with a recommendation devoted to Han Kang, a major figure in contemporary South Korean literature and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024. This literary rendezvous, led by the editorial staff of exibart, embraces a broad spectrum: novels, essays, criticism, philosophy, and classics, aiming to feed readers' curiosity beyond the sole stories of artists.
The featured book, "The Box of Tears" ("La scatola delle lacrime" in Italian), is part of Han Kang's singular oeuvre, known for her poetic prose and often painful subjects, as in "The Vegetarian" or "Impossible Goodbyes." In this text, the author explores her favorite themes: the fragility of family ties, the violence of history, and resilience through writing. The book, available in Italian, invites a meditation on tears as a receptacle of emotions and memories.
Han Kang, born in 1970 in Gwangju, is an essential voice in Asian literature translated worldwide. Her style, both sober and incisive, has won over critics and readers, making her an unavoidable author for those interested in intimate narratives confronted with collective traumas. "The Box of Tears" continues this exploration, offering a reading experience that resonates beyond Korean borders.
This reading recommendation is part of an editorial approach that aims to broaden the field of artistic and cultural reflections, proposing works that illuminate our relationship with the world. By highlighting Han Kang, the column confirms its taste for singular and committed voices, capable of touching a wide audience. Readers in search of meaning and beauty will find in this book a matter both intimate and universal.
Written by the ADM desk based on Exibart. Read the original article for the full story.
Source — Exibart ↗